GOMEP-NG Urges Urgent Action to Rescue Abducted Mussa School Pupils

Reported By Facthabournews

GOMEP-NG Demands Urgent Rescue of Abducted Mussa School Pupils, Calls for Stronger Security.

The Guild of Online Media Editors and Publishers of Nigeria (GOMEP-NG) has called on the Federal Government and the Borno State Government to intensify efforts to rescue pupils abducted from a school in Mussa, Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.The call comes as families of the missing children continue to wait for news about their whereabouts, months after the pupils were taken from their classrooms. Recent reports indicate that the children were abducted on May 15, 2026, in Mussa, a community located near the Sambisa Forest. GOMEP-NG described the continued captivity of the pupils as a serious national security and humanitarian concern, urging authorities to make their safe return a priority.Families Continue to WaitThe abduction has caused prolonged anxiety among parents and members of the Mussa community.According to recent reporting, families staged a protest in Uba town to draw attention to the continued captivity of the children and appeal to the government to intensify rescue efforts. A local representative of the traditional ruler of Mussa said about 45 children remained unaccounted for. Parents have expressed concern about the welfare and safety of their children, particularly because of the length of time they have remained in captivity.The situation has also renewed concerns about the vulnerability of schools located in communities affected by insurgency and other security threats.GOMEP-NG Calls for Immediate ActionGOMEP-NG urged the Federal Government, Borno State Government and relevant security agencies to treat the situation as an urgent security matter.The organisation called for intensified intelligence gathering, surveillance and coordinated security operations aimed at locating the abducted pupils and securing their safe release.The guild also appealed to authorities to maintain communication with the affected families and provide them with appropriate information and support throughout the rescue process.GOMEP-NG stressed that the safe return of the children should remain the central objective of any operation.Security Around Schools Must Be StrengthenedThe latest incident has also highlighted the need for stronger protection of schools in areas affected by insecurity.Schools located close to forests and areas where armed groups operate can face particular risks when security arrangements are inadequate.GOMEP-NG therefore called for a comprehensive review of security arrangements around vulnerable schools in Borno and other parts of the country.Such measures could include improved intelligence networks, stronger surveillance, better communication between communities and security agencies and rapid-response mechanisms for emergencies.The organisation also encouraged communities to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible information that could assist investigations and rescue operations.Mussa Abduction Highlights Wider Security ChallengeThe situation in Mussa is part of a broader security challenge affecting schools and communities in parts of northern Nigeria.The region has experienced attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), with civilians, security personnel and educational institutions among those affected.The abduction of pupils from classrooms is particularly concerning because it can discourage parents from sending children to school and disrupt education in already vulnerable communities.Recent reports also indicate that another school abduction occurred in nearby Lassa on June 29, where 36 students and a teacher were reportedly taken and remained missing at the time of the latest reports. These incidents demonstrate the importance of protecting educational institutions as part of Nigeria’s broader national security strategy.Education Cannot Thrive Without SecurityGOMEP-NG’s intervention also draws attention to the connection between security and education.Parents are unlikely to feel confident sending their children to school when they fear that students could be attacked or abducted.Teachers may equally be reluctant to work in areas where schools are exposed to serious security threats.A prolonged security crisis can therefore have consequences beyond individual incidents, potentially affecting school attendance, literacy and the long-term development of affected communities.For this reason, securing schools should be considered an essential part of efforts to improve education in conflict-affected areas.Calls for Stronger CoordinationGOMEP-NG also urged security agencies to strengthen coordination in responding to threats around vulnerable communities.Effective intelligence sharing between the military, police, intelligence agencies, state authorities and local communities could help security personnel identify threats and respond more quickly.The organisation further called for sustained efforts to address the wider insecurity affecting communities around the Sambisa Forest and other areas where armed groups operate.Rather than relying solely on responses after attacks occur, the guild advocated a stronger preventive security approach that focuses on intelligence, surveillance and community engagement.Government Faces Pressure to Secure Safe ReturnThe continued captivity of the Mussa pupils is likely to maintain pressure on authorities to demonstrate progress in the rescue effort.While security operations can involve sensitive information that authorities may not be able to disclose publicly, families and communities affected by abductions need reassurance that concrete measures are being taken.The government must also balance operational security with the need to keep affected families appropriately informed.For the families of the missing children, however, the overriding concern remains their safe return.A National Appeal for the ChildrenGOMEP-NG’s demand comes amid renewed national concern over school abductions and the broader security challenges confronting Nigeria.The guild urged the authorities to intensify efforts to locate the children and ensure their safe release while strengthening security around schools in vulnerable communities.The organisation also called for sustained attention to the families affected by the abduction, stressing that they should not be left to face the uncertainty alone.The Mussa incident is a reminder that protecting children requires more than securing individual schools. It requires coordinated intelligence, effective community security, rapid response capabilities and sustained efforts to prevent armed groups from operating freely around vulnerable communities.As families continue to wait, the immediate priority remains clear: locate the abducted pupils, secure their safe return and strengthen security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.This report is based on recent reports concerning the Mussa school abduction and statements attributed to GOMEP-NG. Details concerning the number and status of missing pupils remain subject to official confirmation as security operations continue.